[The treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in a special hospital. Its evolution from 1948 to 1986]

Nine hundred and sixty six patients diagnosed of pulmonary and/or pleural tuberculosis and admitted to a specialized hospital from 1948 to 1986, have been retrospectively analyzed, investigating their treatment and evolution. Sixty two percent of patients did not fulfil pharmaceutical treatment as far as number and dose of drugs, evolving through the decades (50, 60, 70, and 80s) with a 100%, 82%, 37% and 3% respectively. A 13% of patients did not receive any chemotherapy, 16% underwent surgery, and 53% received a second treatment. Real or hidden monotherapy was given to 38% of patients. Isoniazide has been the most uniformly used drug. Streptomycin has been the most frequently underdosed used drug. Sputum culture turned negative in 42% and 51% of patients during the first 3 and 6 months respectively, with a 42% of positives persisting after one year and a 30% when discharged. A statistically significant difference is observed when comparing all the variables between admitted patients up to 1969 and from 69 to 86 in favor of the second period.